E-Paper Displays Chinese Provider Seekink Eyes European Market Entry

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The electronic paper (E-Ink) market is being driven globally by several key players. Since 2015, the Chinese company Seekink Inc. has specialized in the development and production of E-Paper displays, with a strong emphasis on research and development. Now, Seekink is planning to expand into the European market, bringing its expertise and innovative E-Paper solutions to a new audience. This strategic move is set to enhance the company's global presence and leverage the growing demand for E-Paper technology in Europe.

E-paper displays are based on electrophoresis technology, where microcapsules or microcups are used as display elements. The principle of operation is based on charged particles that are suspended in a clear liquid and move to the sides of the microcapsules or microcups under the influence of an electric field. These particles reflect ambient light, making the microcapsules visible, much like printed paper.

Displays based on the e-paper principle display images and text in bright light and outdoors under direct sunlight. They are highly reflective and do not require backlighting. The displays offer a wide viewing angle of up to 180° and are eye-friendly. Due to the paper-like effect and good readability, they are typically used as e-readers and electronic price tags. Various color options and flexible displays are possible.

There has been a strategic partnership with E-Ink since 2015

Under the motto "More than paper, for a smart world", the Asian company Seekink Inc. has developed numerous e-paper display technologies since 2015. With branches all over the world, the company has become one of the largest manufacturers of e-paper, offering not only classic e-paper displays (EPDs) but also complete applications based on current technologies such as NFC, WLAN and Bluetooth. The company works with various international partners to distribute its products worldwide. The most important markets are the USA, Europe and Asia.

The company's sales rose from $24 million in 2017 to $154 million in 2022. Sales increased by another $50 million in 2018. Sales growth slowed in 2021 due to the pandemic. The company's business and sales recovered relatively quickly in 2022 after the global Corona crisis.

After the company was founded in 2015 and a strategic partnership was concluded with E-Ink, the company already ranked first in the industry in deliveries in 2016. In 2017, a strategic partnership was concluded with the three largest customers on the world market and new 3-color display models were launched. More EPD production lines and the development of TFT arrays and driver ICs took place in 2018.

E-Ink phone and display with keyboard

Further developments were the first E-Ink phone and an ePaper display with keyboard. The total annual deliveries amounted to 15 million units. As early as 2019, the international share accounted for 70 percent of total sales. Seekink introduced large-format and full-color E-Paper products. Deliveries increased by 200 percent compared to the previous year and reached 30 million units. In 2020, the introduction of EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) followed and in cooperation with BOE, the development of E-Reader products began.

In 2021, the collaboration with Tencent led to the development of educational products such as interactive whiteboards. In 2022, total deliveries exceeded 60 million units and by 2023, the application products had covered additional sectors, including smart office, healthcare and transportation.

Seekink's product range

Seekink's product range includes various sizes from 1 to 42 inches in the color variants BW, BWR, BWY, BWRY, N-color and full color as well as in many resolution variants. For indoor use, for example, there is a 23.5 or 28-inch full-color display or a 42-inch digital whiteboard. For outdoor use, monochrome displays in sizes of 13.3, 28, and 31.2 inches are available. Displays in sizes 10.1 and 10.8 inches are suitable for E-notebooks and E-readers.

For electronic tag, smart wear, smart home, smart retail, smart storage, and smart logistics applications, Seekink works with strategic cooperative partners. Problems still include yellowing on the module, short optical path lengths in the light guide plate, and shortening the 8-mm borders to 5.8 mm.

Possible responses to this are UV blockers like OCA (Optically Clear Adhesives). They prevent ultraviolet rays from reaching the glass layer. The UV transfer printing technique is applied to reduce the size of the dots on the light guide plate. A promising UV transfer printing process was used to achieve a larger display area.

Under the leadership of Thomas de Laar, Seekink Europe is being established this year. This guarantees very good and personal customer service in the EMEA region. De Laar, the former CEO of Holitech Europe, explains: "We are focusing the core business on E-Paper to be able to advise customers specifically and to focus our previously globally oriented display business more on the new techniques." (heh)

Link: Seekink's Website